Fay
A female given name, pet form of Faith or Frances; often used as a middle name.
Every Fay since 1880 — 36,177 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Fay
Fay is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #3,795 in 2025 with 39 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 36,177 American babies have been named Fay — about 89% girls and 11% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1915, when 842 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Fay stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Fay year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 | #3,795 | — | — |
| 2024 | 46 | #3,421 | — | — |
| 2023 | 34 | #4,222 | — | — |
| 2022 | 38 | #3,909 | — | — |
| 2021 | 43 | #3,569 | — | — |
| 2020 | 33 | #4,201 | — | — |
| 2019 | 38 | #3,870 | — | — |
| 2018 | 39 | #3,806 | — | — |
| 2017 | 26 | #5,096 | — | — |
| 2016 | 45 | #3,486 | — | — |
| 2015 | 25 | #5,348 | — | — |
| 2014 | 34 | #4,302 | — | — |
| 2013 | 26 | #5,192 | — | — |
| 2012 | 30 | #4,757 | — | — |
| 2011 | 26 | #5,264 | — | — |
| 2010 | 22 | #6,037 | — | — |
| 2009 | 26 | #5,438 | — | — |
| 2008 | 20 | #6,637 | — | — |
| 2007 | 26 | #5,425 | — | — |
| 2006 | 27 | #5,137 | — | — |
| 2005 | 16 | #7,249 | — | — |
| 2004 | 25 | #5,111 | — | — |
| 2003 | 25 | #4,991 | — | — |
| 2002 | 23 | #5,140 | — | — |
| 2001 | 17 | #6,423 | — | — |
| 2000 | 24 | #4,844 | — | — |
| 1995 | 15 | #6,058 | — | — |
| 1990 | 26 | #3,940 | — | — |
| 1985 | 32 | #2,880 | — | — |
| 1980 | 42 | #2,318 | — | — |
| 1975 | 50 | #1,846 | — | — |
| 1970 | 68 | #1,480 | 5 | #4,948 |
| 1965 | 155 | #794 | 5 | #4,087 |
| 1960 | 274 | #601 | 12 | #2,464 |
| 1955 | 263 | #561 | 21 | #1,697 |
| 1950 | 376 | #413 | 20 | #1,671 |
| 1945 | 335 | #384 | 32 | #1,170 |
| 1940 | 497 | #280 | 59 | #813 |
| 1935 | 543 | #263 | 71 | #726 |
| 1930 | 614 | #251 | 83 | #686 |
| 1925 | 607 | #269 | 119 | #571 |
| 1920 | 690 | #250 | 134 | #528 |
| 1915 | 701 | #224 | 141 | #462 |
| 1910 | 316 | #205 | 24 | #588 |
| 1905 | 215 | #211 | 28 | #404 |
| 1900 | 170 | #248 | 30 | #416 |
| 1895 | 121 | #257 | 23 | #401 |
| 1890 | 99 | #250 | 25 | #353 |
| 1885 | 48 | #290 | 18 | #427 |
| 1880 | 13 | #478 | 15 | #471 |
Famous people named Fay
- Fay Wray Actor · 1907–2004
- Fay Bainter Actor · 1893–1968
- Fay Weldon Writer · b. 1931
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Fay mean?
A female given name, pet form of Faith or Frances; often used as a middle name.
How popular is the name Fay in 2025?
Fay ranked #3,795 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 39 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Fay?
36,177 babies have been named Fay in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Fay most popular?
Fay peaked in 1915, when 842 newborns received the name.
Is Fay a boy or girl name?
Fay is used for both: about 89% of babies named Fay have been girls and 11% boys.
Is the name Fay rising or falling?
Fay is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Fay?
Well-known people named Fay include Fay Wray (actor), Fay Bainter (actor), Fay Weldon (writer).